John ericxson



J. ERICKSON.

MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- B. 1917- Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

- [Hz/ed021- Juhn Erzcksa 2'1.

.rom: nnrcxson, or carcaeo, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR To nu'romrrc mora e COMPANY, OF'GHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION. OF ILLINOIS.

- ME SURED-savior. TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Application filed December 8, 1917. Serial No. 206,817.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOHN EBIGKSON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, and State of Illinois, have lnvented certain new I and useful Improvements in Measured-Service Telephone Systems, of which the followin is a specification.

y invention relates in general to measured service systems and particularly to meter control circuits for use in automatic telephone systems. More specifically the invention provides an improved metering arrangement which-is especially adapted to be placed at the subscribers substatlon either on a single'or party line station and which involves a number of novel and hlghly useful features which will be pointed out and described hereinafter.

In my prior applicatlon Senal #181,727. filed July 20, 1917 I have shown a meter of this character. The present application is n the nature of an improvement upon said prior application and while the prior application shows varied forms of such a meter which accomplishes some of the required results yet my present appl cation accom-v plishes all of the results which were taken care of by the former case in an lmproved manner and also accomplishes further'highly necessary results which were not taken care of in my prior application.

Among the 0b]ects of my invention is to provide an improved substation meter which is absolutely fool proof, that is, one which it is impossible for a subscriber to prevent the operation of and which will operate once and only once for each successful call and which it is impossible to operate to register anunsuccessful call.

Further objects are to arrange the cir-' cuits of such a meter so that when the receiver is removed to make a call, the talking circuit is clear of all windings which are associated with the meter, and also after the call is completed, and the meter is operated, the talking circuit is again cleared of all such windings. Means is also provided to prevent a subscriber from removing the meter from connection with the telephone until it is registered. The above features it will Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

be seen areespecially valuable in connection with polystation lines, in which it is desired to allow a subscriber to listen in on his line before making a call without giving his meter a chance to operate because of the existence of an answered call fronnsome other station on his line.

Referring to the drawings, in the figure I have shown diagrammatically a preferred 'form of a substation circuit embodying my invention together with a fragmentary showing of certam exchange circuits, which may be used to connect with a called subscriber, in order to show the method of controlling said meter.

The complete substation is shown at the left of said figure and isindicated by the reference character A; at C are shown the wipers of a line or selector switch at the exchange individual to the line of substation A which is used to select an idle automatic connector switch E'only the line and back bridge relay of which are shown. The connector E is shown with its wipers in connection with a second or called substation D.

Referring to the figure the substation A comprises a receiver 1, transmitter 2, re ceiver book 3, ringer 4, and condenser 5. Being an automatic substation there is also provided the calling device or impulse sender CD provided with the usual impulse springs 6 and-7 and a shunt spring 8. This calling device is of the type in which the impulse springs are controlled by a finger hole dial to produce series of interruptions in the fine circuit in accordance with the digit of a called number. Such a calling device is shown in the a British patent to Dicker In addition to the parts above enumerated there is provided a meter M comprising an I operating magnet 9, and a polarized controlling relay 10, the armature of which normally maintains the armature of the operating magnet in energized position by means of a pair of escapement springs 11 and 12. The meter M may be of any Well known type comprising a series of number Wheels which are adapted to be operated one step at each completed call to register the total number of such calls.

The line conductors 20 and 21 extend to the exchange, where they terminate in the wipers of an individual switch C. The line switch C may be of any approved type adapted to operate upon the closure of the line circuit at the substation A to extend the line condutcors 20 and 21 into connection with a trunk line 22 and 23 which terminates in a connector switch E which in turn has direct access to a group of subscribers lines one of which is the line of substation I). The connector E may also be of any approved two-wire type, which has the proterminating in the windings of the line relay 24, pass through the reversing springs r on the back-bridge relay 25. Switches similar to those shown are of similar construction to those shown in U. S. Letters Patent to Frank Newforth Reissue #13,?)01.

Having given a brief description of the apparatus 1 will now proceed to explain the mode of operation in detail. The substation A may be one of the stations on a party line, in which case one or more other substations similar in all respects to the substation A may be connected in bridge of the line conductors 20 and 21.

Assuming the substation A to be one of the stations upon a arty line the subscriber will first remove t e receiver .1 from the switch hook 3 to listen in. A circuit is thereby closed from the line conductor 20, through the switch hook 3, spring 13, receiver 1, transmitter 2, impulse springs 7 and 6, springs 14 and 15, springs 16 and 17 and to the line conductor 21. It will be seen that the windings 18 and 19 of the polarized coil 10 are at this time excluded from the line circuit and that the subscriber may listen in to ascertain whether the line is busy or idle without operating said meter control relay. Assuming the line to be idle, the callin party will then rotate his finger hole dia (not shown) to separate the springs 6 and 7 a number of times to send a number of impulses over his line circuit according to the number of the desired partys line. It may be noted here that as soon as the receiver was removed a circuit was closed for the usual line or controlling relay of the line switch C which thereupon operated to select an idle trunk 22 and 23 and to connect the I line conductors 20 and 21 therewith by means of the wipers 26 and 27. As soon as the calling device is first rotated a pin on said dial leaves the spring 8 and allows said spring to make contact with the spring 7. This closes a circuit for the winding 19 of the polarized relay 10 in multiple with the transmitter and receiver and in series with the line 2021 extending from the spring 13, through the winding 19, springs 8 and 7, springs 14 and 15, and 16 and 17 to the conductor 21. Battery at this time will flow from the battery B through the upper winding of line relay 24, springs 28 and 29, conductor 22, wiper 26, conductor 20, switchhook 3, spring 13, through the receiver and transmitter in multiple with the winding 19, to springs Sand 7, spring 6, springs 14 and 15, springs 16 and 17, conductor 21, wiper 27 conductor 23, springs 30 and 31,

and lower winding of relay 24 to ground.

The current in this circuit is of such a direction that the armature 32 of the relay 10 is attracted toward the upper core, thereby pressing the spring 12 in a downward direction and removing a tooth' from engagement with an upward extending arm 33 on the armature of the meter magnet 9. The armature 33 thereupon falls back part way until the bushing on the arm 33 meets another escapement tooth on the underside of the spring 11. This movement of the arm 33 causes the said armature to fall back only a portion of its movement, thereby causing the arm 34 which is attached to the armature 33 to be moved to the right to operate by means of bushings which are located at intervals on the arm 34, certain spring contacts as follows: The spring 15 is moved out of engagement with the spring 14 but not into engagement with the spring 35. The spring 36 is moved into engagement with the spring 37, while the springs 16 and 17 are moved into engagement with the spring 38. The results of this operation of the arm 34 are as follows: The winding 19 of the polarized relay 10'i's short circuited by the closure of the springs 36 and 37 which also short circuits the transmitter and receiver so as to prevent the impulses caused by the separation of the springs 6 and 7 from causing any annoyance to the subscriber through the receiver 1. The movement of the spring 15 removes the short circuit which normally existed around the winding 18 of the polarized relay 10. The movement of the springs 16 and 17 prepares a circuit for the meter magnet 9 extending from the back contact 39 of the switch hook through the said meter magnet 9, springs 38 and 17, to the line conductor 21. The separation of the springs 6 and 7 in response to the operation Of the calling device for the digits of the called number operates to open and close a circuit for the line relay 24 of the connector E, which cir V a direction that the polarized relay 10 will be operated to attract its armature toward the-upper pole piece, which operation" has no eflect at this time as the arm 33 has moved out of engagement with'the escapement tooth on the spring in response to the impu ses for these d1g1ts operates the connector E to connect by means of its wipers 40 and 41 with the lme leading to the substation D. When the call- ,ing device CD restores to normal after de- .livering' the necessary impulses the sprmg 8 is again disconnected from the spring 7,

7 thereby removing the short circuit or shunt circuit from the transmitter 2 and receiver 1 and leaving the transmitter and recelver 7 connected in series with the winding 18 of the polarized relay 10 and the line relay 24 of the connector E. The connector E operates automatically at this time in a manner well known to signal thecalled subscriber through the medium of his ringer 42; The subscriber D upon hearing his signal re-, moves his receiver from the hook, thereby closing a circuit for the back bridge relay 25 of the connector E which extends from ground through the lower winding of said relay 25, wiper 41, to and through the receiver and transmitter of the substation D, wiper 40, and the upper winding of the relay 25 to battery.- The relay 25 upon energizing over the above circuit operates to reverse the connections of the line relay 24 to the trunk conductors 22 and 23 which causes a reversal of the current through said trunk conductors and the line of the substation A in series. This reversal of current through the winding 18 of the polarized relay 10 causes the armature 32 to be attracted to the lower pole pieceof said relay, thereby raising the spring 11 to remove an escapement tooth on said spring out of engagement with the arm 33. The arm 33 thereupon moves to the right due to spring tension and causes the arm 34 to be moved farther toward the right. -This movement of the arm 34 causes the tooth 43 on the end of said arm to fall now converse over the conductors which are shown with heavy lines. It will be seen that this talking circuit is clear of all windings which are associated with the meter mechanism and that no matter what changes in current flow may take place in said talking circuit there is no chance for the meter controlling relay to be againoperated. After the conversation is completed theconnection is released by the hanging up of the receiver at the calling station in the usual manner. The closure of contact by the 12. Line'relay 24 switch hook 3 with the spring 39 closes a circuit for the meter magnet 9 which may be traced as follows: From battery through the usual line relay of the line switch C to the line conductor 20, switch hook 3, contact 39, meter magnet9, springs 38 and 17, line conductor 21' and to ground at the line switch 0. p I

The meter magnet 9 is of comparatively high resistance and does not allow the line relay of the line switch 0 to be energized at this time. The magnet 9, however, energ zes and operates the meter through the me- 1um of the tooth 43 and the wheel 44, restores the springs 14, 15, 36, etc; to their normal position and restores the upward extendin arm 33- to its normal position behind t e escapement tooth on the spring 12. The restoration of the springs 14, 15, etc. to their normal position again places the sub station circuits in their normal position and leaves the circuits ready for another call from the substation A. Let us assume now that the subscriber A lifted his receiver to initiate a call and operate his calling device CD for the first digit of the called number. In this case as before pointed out the winding 19 of the polarized relay 10 is first thrown across the talking circuit and operates to allow the armature of the .meter magnet 9 to take-its first step, which step removes the winding 19 from the talking circuit and replaces it by the winding 18 of the said polarized relay. If the subscriberv magnet 9 at the back contact of the switchhook. The magnet 9 will therefore energize at this time to restore its armature to normal position, thereby again bringing the springs 14, 15, etc., to normal position but without operating the counting wheels "to register the call. This non-operation of the register is due to the fact that the tooth 43 on the end of the arm 34 does not fall into the next succeeding tooth on the wheel 44 until the armature of the meter magnet 9 has taken its second step or until the battery has been. reversed through the talkin circuit by the response of the called su scriber.

The same results above pointed out will take place in every instance Where a call is initiated and then discontinued beforethe response of the called subscriber.

It is ve often the case where a subscribers su station meter is installed that certain subscribers will endeavor to make calls for which they should be charged and if possible prevent the operation of the meter to register this call. F or instance, in the circuits shown a calling subscriber might initiate a call and as soon as he hears the ringing current which is applied to the called subscribers line for signaling he may by quickly lowerin and raising his receiver attempt to energize the meter magnet 9 to withdraw the arm 34. and open the circuits of the polarized relay 10 so that when the called subscriber does answer the arm 33 and its associated arm 34 will not be operated the second step to bring the tooth 43 behind the next tooth on the wheel 44., in which case when the call was completed and the receiver replaced upon the hook the call would not be registered. In order to overcome this dificulty the spring 17 which controls the line circuit is put under the control of a slow acting element or weighted balance wheel 45. Now when the arm 34 moves to the left upon the operation of the meter mag-' net 9, the upper end of the spring 17 attempts to follow the spring 16 but is retarded by the slow movement of the element 45 so that even though the subscriber does not open the line circuit at the point 3 and 13 of the switch hook long enough to cause the connection to be released, the springs 16 and 17 willbe held open upon the operation of the meter magnet for a suflicient length of time to cause the release of the switches at the exchange.

It will be seen therefore that the meter control relay. cannot be removed from the line circuit before the meter is operated without releasing the connection and forcing the subscriber to call again.

It will be seentherefore that I have provided a very eflicient type of substation meter which meets all the requirements of party line or signal station line systems and also one which is absolutely certain in its operation and renders it impossible for any subscriber to call without being properly charged for said call.

Also it will be seen that I have provided means whereby the difi'erent windings of the meter magnet and its controlling relays are only included in the talking circuit for a short period of time during the establishment of a connection and that while listening in before a call or while conversing after the call is established the calling circuit is clear of any such windings or resistance. 7

Having described my invention I will garages point out in the appended claims what I consider to be new by Letters Patent.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a substation, the combination of a line circuit for said station, talking instrumentalities included in said line circuit, a meter for said station, a controlling relay for said meter, means for completing a con nection to a called line, said controlling relay normally excluded from the line circuit, means for including said relay in the line circuit during the establishment of a connection, and means for again excluding said relay from the line circuit after the connection is completed and While the subscribers are talking.

2. In a substation, the combination of a line circuit for said station, talking instrumentalities included in said line circuit, a meter for said station, a controlling relay for said meter, means for completing a connection to a called-line,said controlling relay normally excluded from the line circuit, means for including said relay in the line circuit during the establishment of a con nection, whereby said meter maybe opera-ted, and means for again excluding said relay from the line circuit after the connection is completed and while the subscribers are talking.

3. In a telephone substation, a line circuit therefor, talking instrumentalities associated With said circuit, a measured service device, a controlling relay for said device, normally inoperative, means whereby when a call is initiated said magnet is automatically placed in operative condition, and

mechanism for preventing the subscriber from restoring said magnet to inoperative condition after the connection is established and before the called subscriber has answered.

l. In a telephone system, talking instrumentalities and suitable circuits therefor, a.

calling device. a measured service'device, a controlling relay for said device normally inoperative, means controlled by the operation of said calling device for rendering said relay operative, and mechanism for preventing the calling subscriber from restoring said magnet to inoperative condition after the connection has been established and before the called subscriber has answered.

5. In a telephone substation, a line circuit therefor, a calling device, a measured service device, a controlling relay for said de vice normally excluded from said line circuit, means controlled by said calling device for including said relay in the line circuit, means controlled by said calling device for extending a connection from said line to a called subscriber, and means controlled by the response of the called subscriber to op- -erate said relay to in turn operate said measured service device over said first line. a

6. In a telephone substation, the combination of talking instrumentalities and suitable circuits therefor, of a call register, a controlling relay for said register normally inoperative, a calling device also normally inoperative, means controlled by the operation of said device to extend a call, for rendering said relay operative, means for then controlling said relay to operate said meter, and'means controlled by the operation of said meter for again rendering said relay inoperative.

7 In a telephone substation, the combination of talking instrumentalities and suitable circuits therefor, of a call register, a controlling relay for said register normally inoperative, a calling device also normally inoperative, means controlled bythe operation of said device to extend a call, for rendering said relay operative, means controlled b the called subscriber for then controlling said relay to operate said meter, and means controlled by the operation of said meter for again rendering saidrelay inoperative.

8. In a telephone substation, the combination of talking instrumentalities and suitable circuits therefor, of a call register, a controlling relay for said register normally inoperative, a calling device also normally inoperative, means controlled by the operation of said device to extend a call, for rendering said relay operative, means controlled by the called subscriber for then controlling said relay to operate said meter, means controlled by the operation of said meter for again rendering said relay inoperative, and a mechanism for preventing the calling subscriber from restoring said relay to inoperative condition after a connection has been established and before the called subscriber answers.

9. In a telephone substation, a line circuit therefor, talking equipment associated with said line circuit, a measured service device, a controlling relay for said device having a pair of windings normally excluded from the line circuit, a calling device, means controlled by the initial operation of said calling device for including one of said windings in said line circuit, the inclusion of said windingadapted to control said relay to partially operate said measured service device and to again exclude said winding from the line circuit, means controlled by the partial operation of said measured service device for including the other of said windings in the line circuit, means for then controlling said relay through the medium of said last winding to again partially operate said measured service device and to again exclude said last winding from the line circuit, and means for then completing the operation of said measured service device to register the call.

. 10. In atelephone substation, a line circuit therefor, talking equipment'in said line circuit, a measured service device, a magnet for controlling said device to register a call, a normally open circuit for said magnet, an

- armature for said magnet normally held in attracted position, means for allowing said armature to fall back part way to close the circuit of the magnet at one point, and for then allowing said armature to fall back all the way, means for then closing the circuit of said magnet at another point whereby said magnet is energized to restore its armature to attracted position toagain open thle1 circuit of said magnet and register the ca 'i.

11. In a telephone substation, a line circuit, talking equipment associated with said line circuit, a mete-r, a magnet having an armature for operating said meter, said armature normally inoperative to operate said meter, a circuit for said magnet normally open, means for extending a connection from said substation to a called substation, means controlled by the initiation of a call for closing the circuit forsaid magnet at one point, means controlled by the response of the called subscriber for rendering said armature operative to operate said meter,

and means controlled by the hanging up of the receiver at the calling substation for op- 12. In a, telephone system, a line circuit therefor, suitable talking equipment included in said line circuit, a normally inoperative meter, a. calling device, means for operating said meter, means controlled by the operation of said calling device for rendering said meter partially operative, means for extending a connection from said substation to a called station, means controlled by the response of the called subscriber for rendering said meter fully operative, and means for then operating said meter.

\ 13. In a telephone system, a line circuit therefor, suitable talking equipment included in said line circuit, a normally inoperative meter, a calling-device, means for operating said meter, means controlled by the operation of said calling device for rendering said meter partially operative, means for extending a connection from said substation to a called station, means controlled by the response of the called subscriber for rendering said meter fully operative, means for then operating said meter, and means for preventing a calling subscriber from holding said meter inoperative after the connection has been established and before the called subscriber has answered.

14. In a telephone system, a line circuit rendering said meter fully operative, means therefor, suitable talking equipment includfor then operating said meter, and means ed in said line circuit, a normally inoperafor preventing a calling subscriber from tive meter, a calling device, means for operholdlng said meter inoperativeafter the con- 5 ating said meter, means controlled by the nection has been established and before the 15 operationof said calling device tor rendercalled subscriber has answered without reing said meter partially operatlve, means leasing the connection. 7 for extending a connection from said sub- Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county station to a called station, means controlled Illinois, this 6th .day of December, 1917.

0 by the response of the called subscriber for JOHN ERIOKSON. 

